Electric time-switch.



PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

C. S. MOORE.

ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23, 1903` UNITED STATES Patented November 22, 1904.

PATENT Ormea.

CLIFFORD S. MOORE, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO BURTON C. READ, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC T S?ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,844, dated IME-SWETCH.

November 22, 1904.

Application led December 23, 1903. Serial No. 186,286. (No model.)

T0 all wlmi/'1f t 712/04/ coll/cern:

Be it known that I, CLIFFORD S. MOORE, a citizen ofthe United States of America, and a resident of Holyoke, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time Electric Switches, of which the following is a i full, clear, Vand exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in actuating mechanism for imparting an operating movement to a movable part having for its object, for instance, the opening of an electric switch which may control a series of lamps or the closing of such switch, or both, whereby the lamps lighted may be extinguished or having been extinguished maybe lighted, an ol ject being to accomplish the automatic action or actions at any predetermined time or times by virtue of the movement.

It is, furthermore, the object of this invention to `provide an automatically-operative mechanism of the character set forth which is extremely simple and positive in action, inexpensive of production, and susceptible of long use, enabling many repetitions of its operations without derangement.

The invention consists in combinations and arrangements of parts and devices and the constructions of certain of the parts, all substantially as hereinafter fully described, and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l shows, substantially in front elevation, an apparatus embodying a normally closed and normally open electric switch comprised in connection with electric circuit-conductors and having the novel mechanisms operatively combined therewith for opening the one switch at a predetermined timev and for closing the other switch at any time desired. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view as taken on the line 2 2, Fig. l, parts below the line of section being seen in plan view.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding' parts in-both of the views.

In the drawings, A represents a case or cabinet having a hinged or removable front A$2 and the samev having' therein two compartl ments in which are electric switches B and C, having double sets of contacts e f/y and each having a single-throw double-bladed switchlever D or 1)2 for opening and closing the switches.

n' represents circuit-conductors, ordinary electric wires, the same being understood as running from the generator fz/ to one rear contact of one switch C, from the other rear contact-switch C to the one of the rear contacts of the switch B, thence from the other rear contact of switch B to and in return connection with a series of electric lamps s, the electric wire returning to a connection with one of the contacts of the switch B at the front, continuing` from the other front contact of switch B to the front contact oi switch C, and thence from the other front contact of switch C, returning bacl; to the generator y.

Located in the left-hand portion of the cabinet is the mechanism for automaticall)v opening the normally closed circuit and extinguishing the lights at any predetermined time, and this mechanism will be now described.

E represents a slidable member having an engagement with the pair of vertical runnerrods (Z CZ, the vertical movement of the member E being guided and constrained by such runner-rods. The said slidable member E has an extension f, to the extremity of which the lower end of a link F is pivotally connected, the upper end of said-link being' pivotally connected with 'the operating-arm of the double-bladed switch D. Above the slidable member E is a weight G, engaged with and guided in its vertical movements by the said ruimer-rods (Z d.

J represents a lever pivotally mounted at g for a swinging movement ina vertical plane, the said lever having an angularly-extended toe it, which constitutes a weight-supporting abutment, said toe being pivotally engaged with the lever J and having' an inclined under side, so that it may yield in an upward direcy tion when the weight is carried to the elevated position shown to allow the weight to pass by the toe, said toe being immovable ina down-v ward direction, and thereby serving to sustain the weight until the lever is bodily swung' so far toward the right as to carry the point of the toe clear from under the weight,

L represents a horizontally-arranged lever pivoted at i Jfor aswingingmovementinavertical plane and having its location in coperative proximity to the depending pivotallyhung lever J and serving' as a detent for normally preventing the swinging movement to the rightward of the lever J, which movef anism. In the representation here given an ordinarySeth Thomas alarm-clock 1s utilized,

the projection m being provided as a rig'id part of the winding-arbor mfg of the alarmclock M, no change or addition to the alarmclock being required beyond the provision of the projection fm, it being' understood that the clock is provided, in addition to the usual clock winding' and clock setting' provisions, also with the usual alarm-setting means, whereby, as desired, the alarm mechanism may be liberated at any predetermined time for which the alarm mechanism may be set. In this mechanism the bell and striker of the alarmclock will be generally omitted or removed. The switch B, having the double switchblades thereof swung upwardly into the closed position, as shown, through the link, causes the elevation of the slidable member E somewhat above the bottom of the cabinet, the lever J being engaged at its lower end by the detent, and the weig'ht is slid te the upper ends of the runner-rod and sustained on the abutment-toe of the lever J. The circuit controlled by the said switch B will remain closed and the lamps lighted until such time as by the setting of the clockwork mechanism the alarm mechanism will be liberated, whereupon the unwinding of the alarm-winding mechanism will cause the rotation of the arbor mi and the revoluble movement or' the projection ml for imping'ement against the detent-lever L, raising the right-hand end portion of such detent and depressing the left-hand end thereof, freeing the vertical lever J so that it may swing to the rightward, the toe-abutment thereof becoming'withdrawn from its position of support under the weight, which latter then 'falling onto the slidable member E will downwardly force the latter and accomplish the opening' of the switch and the breaking of the electric current through the lamps.

As a provision for emergency use or for securing an operation oi' the switch at any moment which may be desired and in advance of lthe time when the switch would be operated by the clockwork, an electromagnet O is l i l 1 l, l l l l l l l l l provided, connected in a circuit herein termed the u electromagnet-circuit" and indicated by the wiring' o, normally open, having the contacts o (i2 and circuit-closing switch n and having' connected therein a battery or generator o". The armature of the electromagnet is comprised in a lever P, indicated as pivotally mounted at y) and having' the long arm thereof extended under and in proximity to the stud or projection (j, laterally extended from the detent-lever L. Hence it is seen that there is cooperatively combined with the detent-lever not only the clock-actuated trip- 1 ping' means, but also the electromagnetic tripping means, the switch for the electromagnetic circuit having its location outside oll and at any convenient place adjacent or remote from the cabinet.

The arrangements comprised in the righthand compartments of the cabinet are substantially duplications of those in the left-hand compartment, the same relative combination ot slidable member Ff, ruimer-rods d, detent-lever L2, clock mechanism lli, in, and m", vertical lever Ji, having' abutment-toe lfi, and weight Gr2 being' observed, as well also as the link Fi, which, however, has its upper end pivoted to the lever-arm of the double-bladed switch reversely arranged from the arrangement of the switch B, so that under the same conditions and manner of operation the descent of the weight G by causing' the down-swinging of the lever-like switeh-blzules DE will close instead et' opening the main circuit. Hence the apparatus may be depended upon to turn on the lighting or other current at any desired time and thereafter to turn oii the current, and explanation of the operativeness of the apparatus for this result will be given as follows: The apparatus viewed in its entirety is seen to comprise a circuit having' connected therein the generator andthe lamps with provisions for two breaks or openings therein constituted by the switches B and (l, the one, B, being shown closed and the one, (l, open. Assume, as an example, that it is desired to turn on the lights at eight p. m. and to turn ofi' the lights at one a. m. Therefore the clock mechanism .M2 and M will be set `for the members m" and m to have their movements at those times, and hence at the iirst predetermined time, the devices L, J i, G, Ei, and lf will have their operations given to them to close the switch C, making the circuit complete or closed, which will so remain, the

, lamps continuing' lighted until the later predetermined time, when the devices L, J, (il, E, and F will have their operations given to them to open the switch B, and consequently again establish a break in the circuit to extinguish the lights. Of course the switch C might be permanently closed and the clockworks M`l removed from the cabinet or allowed to remain "run down, in which case the apparalOO lIO

tus would only have the capability of automatically opening the circuit, or, on the other hand, the switch B might be permanently closed and the clock M removed or rendered inoperative, whereupon the apparatus would only have the capacity for automatically closing the circuit.

After the operation or operations of the mechanism, usually once a day, the cabinet will be opened, the clockworls rewound, and the switches and conjunctive switch-operating' devices reset. The clocks are retained in their proper cooperative relations with the detentlevers L L2, removable, however, by angular clips z5, so that for conveniently rewinding' or setting them they may be taken out from the cabinet and thereafter replaced.

Inasmuch as the friction in the pivotal joint of the switch-blades D2 may not be suficient to sustain the weight of the slidable member E2 such member is connected by a chain or other flexible connection s with the weight G2, so that the same support for the weight sustains the part E2 and relieves the normally open switch from any undue force thereon having the tendency to close it.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a device of the character described, in combination, a movable actuating member o't' a switch, a slidable member connected to said movable member, a weight arranged to coperate with said slidable member, a swinging' lever having' a weight-supporting' abutment, a detent for said lever, and a clock-actuated part, arranged to trip the detent at a predetermined time.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a movable actuating' member of a switch, a slidable member connected to said movable member, a weight arranged to coperate with said slidable member, a swinging' lever having' a pivoted toe constituting a weight-supporting abutment adapted to yield in an upward direction relatively to the lever, a detent for said lever, and a clock-actuated part, arranged to trip the detent at a predetermined time.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, an electric switch having' a pivoted circuit opening and closing lever, a slidable member, and a link connected thereto and to said switch-lever, a weight arranged to cooperate with said slidable member, a lever pivotally mounted and adapted to swing in a vertical plane having a weight-supporting abutment, a pivoted detent for said lever, and aclocl-actuated part, arranged to periodically trip the detent.

4. In a device oi"V the character described, in combination, a movable actuating member ot' a switch, one or more vertical runner-rods, a member connected to said movable member, and arranged for a sliding movement on and guided by said rods, a weight also having a sliding engagement with said rods and arranged to cooperate with said slidable member, a swinging lever having a toe constituting a weight-supporting abutment, a detent for said lever, and a clock-actuated part, arranged to trip the detent at a predetermined time.

5. In a device oiI the character described, in combination, two electric switches having' respectively a normally open and a normally closed switch-lever, and electric-circuit conductors in which the contacts otl said switches and a generator are connected, duplicated slidable members connected to said switch-levers, weights arranged to cooperate with said slidable members, swinging levers having weightsupporting' abntments, detents for said levers, and duplicated clock-actuated parts arranged to trip the detents at different predetermined times to close the one switch, and thereafter open the other switch.

6. In a device ot' the character' described, in combination, an electric switch having' a swinging switch opening' and closing' lever, and electric-circuit conductors connected with the contacts of the switch, and having' therein connected a g'enerator and a series ot' electric lamps, a slidable member linked to said switchlever, a weight arranged to cooperate with said slidable member, a swinging' lever having a weight-supporting abutment, a detent for said lever, and a clock-actuated part, arranged to trip the detent at a predetermined time.

7. In a device of the characterdescribed, in combination, a movable actuating' member of a switch, a slidable member connected to said movable member, a weig'ht arranged to coperate with said slidable member, a swinging' lever having' a weight-supporting' abutment, and a detent having' a detachable engagement with said lever.

y Signed by me at Springlield, Massachusetts, in presence of two subscribing' witnesses.

CLIFFORD S. MOORE. IVitn esses:

V. LnAi-IY, IVM. S. BELLows.

IOO 

